Jessica Onyegbula

The Federal Government has urged stakeholders in the advertising industry to implement the nations laws and policy promoting the use of local contents for at least 40 per cent of advertisement contents.

The Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dr Dasuki Arabi, made the plea on Saturday in Abuja, while receiving the management of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), led by its Registrar, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, which was on a working visit.

According to Arabi, it is important that the advertising industry plays a leading role, as required of it in promoting local content in its productions to be in line with a provision in the Executive Order 5 of the Federal Government.

President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Executive Order 5 on Feb. 5, 2018, partly to improve local content in public procurement in all areas, especially science, engineering and technology components.

The Executive Order demonstrates the Federal Governments efforts to promote the application of science, technology and innovation within Nigeria to enhance the national developmental goal of improving all sectors of the economy.

The issue of local content is very important to the country now that the government is changing the face of development across areas and segments in promoting national interests, he said.

Arabi said that the idea to re-brand the public sector became imperative, especially in the quest to ensure that government creates a unified master brand which could among others be used to achieve strategic objectives.

These, he said, include boosting the nations image, building stronger sense of national unity, delivering digital services, improving governments communication to citizens, and redirecting focus on services provided by government departments.

In the light of the foregoing, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, approved the composition of an Inter-Ministerial Technical Working Committee on Re-branding of the Nigeria Public Sector in 2019.

The initiative essentially addresses Federal Governments concerns toward creating a Unified Master-Brand Architecture to handle governments branding and information management for enhanced service delivery, he said.

He said that so far, the committee had submitted an interim report; developed its Terms of Reference and strategic framework for developing a brand management for the public sector.

The COVID-19 pandemic had somehow slowed the space of work on the assignment. It is hoped, however, that with the phased ease of the lockdown and further directives from the SGF, the committee will proceed further with the assignment, he added.

In his remarks, Dr Fadolapo, said that there had been lots of improvement in the advertisement sector in the country and that there is still room for more positive development.

He added that the two organisations also pledged to deepen their working relationship, especially in the areas of civil and public sectors reforms.

Source: NAN News

By Uchenna Eletuo

The Federal Government has ratified the Kyoto Protocol and its Doha amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change (UNFCCC).

The ratification is contained in a letter, signed by the Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Abubakar and made available to newsmen on Saturday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 1997 Kyoto protocol set binding climate targets for developed countries while its amendment signed in Qatar in 2012 obligations to 37 more countries.

NAN further reports that, the treaty was to elicit countries investment in cutting down carbon emission for a cleaner environment, projected to cut emission by 18 per cent below 1990 levels from 2013 to 2020.

The letter, quoted the minister saying the ratification of the document by President Muhammadu Buhari made Nigeria the 144th country to sign the climate treaty that will bring it into effect.

Federal government has accepted the amendment to the protocol and will carry out its stipulations to foster good environment.

The ratified treaty provides closure to the climate regime established in Kyoto as the world moves to implement the Paris agreement, which requires every country to contribute to climate targets, the minister stated.

It said that the UN climate change had confirmed that, Nigeria had formally endorsed the treaty, hours before a deadline that required 144 of the 192 signatories to ratify the deal, for it to come into force by Dec. 31, 2020.

The Executive Secretary, UN Climate Change, Patricia Espinosa thanked Nigeria for joining others to sign the UNFCCC document.

Source: NAN News

Scores of terrorists killed in massive airstrikes on hideouts in Borno DHQ

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence Headquarters says the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole has again recorded appreciable success in their resolve to stem terrorists activities in the North East Zone.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, announced this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

Enenche said the crews of the subsidiary Operation Hail Storm 2, had on Oct. 1, neutralised several Boko Haram terrorists and destroyed their hideouts at Maima and Tusuy near Warshale and Tongule along the Dikwa-Rann axis of Borno.

He said the feat was achieved sequel to credible intelligence reports and series of aerial surveillance missions, which indicated that the locations were being used as rendezvous points by the terrorists.

According to him, the Air Task Force dispatched an appropriate force package of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets and helicopter gunships to engage the two locations.

The attack aircraft scored devastating hits in the target areas, destroying some structures and neutralising several of the terrorists, he said.

Source: NAN News

By Desmond Ejibas

The Federal Government says it had ha begun the clamp down on the use of faulty and altered measuring and weighing equipment by some business owners

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Adeniyi Adebayo, announced this on Saturday in Port Harcourt at a two-day sensitisation workshop with stakeholders in the downstream oil and gas industry.

Adeniyi, represented by Mr Gbolahan Adamoh, Head of Oil and Gas, Department of Weight and Measures (WM), in the ministry said that government was aware of such illicit trade by some service providers.

The minister said that Weights and Measure department is the lead Federal Government agency mandated to enforce accurate use of weighing and measuring equipment for trade in the country.

According to him, the department has discovered that many businesses, such as filling stations, recalibrate their metres and equipment to cheat the buying public.

So, we decided to meet with critical stakeholders in the downstream oil and gas sector and engage them to maintain accurate measurement of their metres while serving their customers.

We want customers to get full value for their money especially during this COVID-19 pandemic that has affected the economy of the country and made things difficult for Nigerians.

We want a litre of fuel to be a litre, and kilogramme of whatever grain to be a kilogramme, so that Nigerians can get their monies worth, he said.

The minister said that severe sanction was awaiting any business operator found to be using faulty and recalibrated equipment to defraud Nigerians.

He said that such individuals would have their filling stations and businesses sealed-off and made to pay huge sums of money as well as face jail term.

We appeal to filling station operators and other business owners to visit our offices for verification and proper certification of their equipment for use for trade.

The department is committed to protecting both the producers and consumers through fair and balanced trade transaction, he added.

Adebayo told the participants that the permissible tolerance level remained 60 milligram for 10 litres of fuel and 30 milligram for 10 litres, different from the tolerance level provided by other government regulators.

He warned stakeholders against the use of other measuring scales, saying that weight and measure department is the only body backed by law to regulate measuring scale in the country.

One of the participants, Sunny Nkpe, the Zonal Chairman, System 2E of Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), called for more collaboration and synergy between both bodies.

He said that the association was worried about the different error allowance approved by the Weight and Measure department, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

Our concern is that DPR approved minimum of 300 milligram as error allowance for fuel while weight and measure department is on the side saying dont exceed 30 milligram.

So, we want the Federal Government to resolve this conflict.

We want to know whose function it is and the approved measuring scale to run lawful business, he appealed.

Francis Dimkpa, branch Chairman of PETROAN in Rivers, said the association would soon invite all regulating agencies and security agencies to a meeting to ensure harmony in the industry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the ministers delegation also inspected and sealed off the premises of two filling stations in Port Harcourt accused of under dispensing fuel to customers.

Source: NAN News

By Felicia Imohimi

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), says 42 Pharmacies and 397 Patent Medicine Shops were shutdown in Akwa-Ibom in September for lack of compliance to regulatory provisions.

The Registrar of the Council, Dr Elijah Mohammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja that nine compliance directives were issued to others for minor offences.

The registrar noted that the council was committed to ensuring that its vision of creating an enabling and regulated environment for the provision of quality pharmaceutical services for sustainable healthcare delivery was achieved.

Mohammed, giving an update of the councils activities in September, said the feat resulted from the ongoing effort of the PCN to clampdown on the proliferation of illegal medicine shops.

He said that the proliferation became worse since the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Enforcement Team of the PCN visited Akwa Ibom State in September on enforcement.

During the exercise, 42 Pharmacies and 397 Patent Medicine Shops were sealed off for lack of compliance with PCN regulatory provision in their practice and operation.

Also nine compliance directives were issued to others for other minor offences, he said.

The Registrar said sequel to the reconstitution of the PCN Governing Council and the subsequent appointment of the Chairman, Prof. Ahmed Mora, the statutory and Ad hoc Committees set up as operational arm have swung into action and yielding result.

He said that so far the Councils Investigating Panel sat in September and conducted investigations on 17 pharmacists and 11 petitioners over alleged acts of professional misconduct.

The panel, according to him, is able to resolve some issues, while the unresolved ones will be referred to the councils Disciplinary Tribunal.

He, however, reiterated that the council did not tolerate misconduct and mischief among its stakeholders.

In the same vein, the 14-member Ad hoc Committee on Pharmacy Practices and PCN functions deliberated extensively on various issues bothering on evidence-based care and pharmaceutical care.

Other issues the committee deliberated on are pharmacist specialists services and repositioning pharmacy training and practice in Nigeria, in line with current realities.

Also, to curb the illicit use of drugs amongst the youth, PCN collaborated with Mr Anietie Umoren and Mr Joseph Edionwele, in Essen Udim LGA of Akwa Ibom to sensitised the youth to the dangers of drugs.

The council also collaborated with Iruekpen in Esan Central West/Igueben Federal Constituency of Edo to sensitive the youth.

The council hosted two advocacy workshops on drug abuse in the month of September, he noted.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Diri

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum has congratulated Gov. Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State over the Court of Appeal judgment in his favour.

The appeal court set aside the judgment of the Bayelsa State Election Tribunal which nullified his election.

Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, congratulated Diri in a statement issued by the Director-General of the Forum, C.I.D. Maduabum, in Abuja on Friday.

Tambuwal said that the news of the appellate court victory did not come as a surprise.

He said it had been obvious that the hand of God was on the throne concerning Diris leadership of Bayelsa State.

This current affirmation of your mandate, necessary support, prayers and loyalty given by Bayelsa people clears the path for you to settle down in the enormous task of taking the state to greater heights without any further distractions, he said.

Tambuwal appealed to the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party (ANDP) and the unseen hands supporting them, to realise that there must be an end to litigation.

It is time to allow Bayelsa governor to move the state forward by delivering the good governance Bayelsa people crave for and deserve.

We see this victory as a testimony to the gallant efforts already made by the governor since he mounted the saddle a few months ago, Tambuwal said.

He said that it wasnow left for Diri to reciprocate the love of the people with the resolve to continue to do more in delivering democratic dividends to them in Bayelsa State.

The forum chairman said that the people of Bayelsa had not only put their hopes on him but had also given their wholehearted trust and undiluted loyalty.

We are certain that you will continue to rise to the occasion in the tradition of PDP governors, he said.

Tambuwal assured Diri that PDP governors and the party would continue to support him to succeed. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Lukaku with his award

Belgian Romelu Lukaku has been named the Europa League player of the 2019/2020 season after the forward helped Italian side Inter Milan to the final with goals in every knockout round.

Lukaku, who revived his career in Italy with 34 goals in all competitions in his first season at the club, scored seven times in the Europa League in six matches.

This was after Inter Milan dropped down from the UEFA Champions League into the second tier competition.

Inter Milan lost the final match 2-3 to Sevilla of Spain in August, but the 27-year-old forward had done enough to sway the vote in his favour with 270 points.

He beat Manchester Uniteds Bruno Fernandes (128) and Sevillas Ever Banega (118) to claim the prize.

First of all, I will like to congratulate Sevilla personally for having won the final tournament, Lukaku said in a pre-recorded message after the announcement was made during the Europa League draw.

I want to thank my family and my agents for their support. I also want to thank my coach and the club staff, the board, and the president for their trust and for helping me throughout this season.

Most importantly, I want to thank my team mates, who have been great with me from the first day I joined. Theyve been like brothers to me Every day I come to training, I come with a smile they make me want to work harder.

The vote was made by a jury comprised of coaches from the 48 clubs which participated in the group stages and 55 journalists.

Inter Milan are back in the UEFA Champions League again this season, where they were drawn in Group B alongside 13-times champions Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk and Borussia Moenchengladbach.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Parliamentarians partner AIDS foundation, promise improved wellbeing for girls

By Talatu Maiwada

The House Committee on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control (ATM), on Friday, partnered AIDS Health Care Foundation (AHF), an NGO, to improve the wellbeing and provision of healthcare services for the girl-child.

The Chairman of the committee,Hon. Abubakar Dahiru, made the promise during an interface with AHF-Nigeria Girls Act at the National Assembly in Abuja.

The meeting was part of activities to commemorate the 2020 International Day of the Girl-Child, declared by the United Nations, established in 2012 and annually celebrated on Oct. 11.

Dahiru made the commitment in response to demands made by AHF Girls Act, which includes provision of adequate water, toilet facilities in schools, provision of sanitary pads and support to lower age, and consent to access reproductive health services.

He said the committee would partner with the foundation to ensure the rights of the girl-child were protected and provided for by presenting bills and motions, while seeking 50 per cent increase in 2021 budget.

He added that we will partner with the foundation to evolve a motion that is going to help; that is why we said the group should write all their grievances and bring it to us.

We are going to put it together, if it is a bill we will present the bill, and if it is a motion we will present the motion.

On the issue of AIDS, TB and malaria whose symptoms are similar to COVID-19, we are equally doing our best, especially with the 2021 budget, to ensure an increase of almost 50 per cent.

Dahiru appreciated the foundation for the advocacy in ensuring that the girl child was empowered, while encouraging other partners to collaborate more with the legislators as they represent the whole federation.

Hon. Darlington Nwokocha, member ATM committee, reiterated their commitment to partner with the foundation, saying such awareness campaign was important.

He said it is true that the sanitary situation of some schools and public places is quite abysmal.

It is important that the 360 members of the House of Representatives go back home and find out the sanitary situation of our schools.

We are ready to partner with you because you have a very meaningful objective that will strengthen the health infrastructure for a better Nigeria.

The foundations Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Mr Steve Aborishade, explained that the Girls Act is a girl-led initiative that fosters leadership, builds confidence for girls and young women to support each other.

Aborishade said that young girls faced a lot of challenges such as difficulty in accessing sanitary pads for their menstrual cycle, stressing that free sanitary pads should be reintroduced in schools across the country.

He added that in Nigeria today, the age of consent is 18, and if a girl is below 18 years, she cannot access reproductive health services.

Most girls do not like discussing their issues with adults and a lot of them have challenges of unwanted pregnancies and infection.

The sanitary situation in schools is of reat concern, as water supply is inadequate and the toilets are really bad.

Sarah Udeh, 18 years old member of the AHF Girls Act, said that water, hygiene, sanitation were the core needs of schools, stressing that none were available in most schools across the country.

Ruth Daniel, another member of the AHF Girls Act, said Girls Act is all about empowering young girls; we are looking forward to a generation where girls are no more molested.

We are looking to where the rights of girls will be protected, where girls are bold to speak out, I encourage young girls who are raped to be vocal and fight for their right. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

HIV self-testing

By Peter Uwumarogie

The Gombe State Government of Friday launched the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) self-testing campaign targeted to get 500,000 persons to know their status.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ahmed Gana, at the launch said that the event would help consolidate on the gains the state had achieved in the fight against HIV.

According to Gana, the exercise will create more awareness in the fight against the disease in the state so that we dont assume that HIV/AIDS is over. It is not over but it is almost over.

We have made a lot of progress because 14 years back, we were at 8.3 per cent prevalence of HIV/AIDS but currently we are at 1.3 per cent; so we are doing very well in Gombe State.

The exercise is a private public partnership. The singular request that we got from this organisation is for Gombe State Government to support by procuring a minimum of 200, 000 test kits.

I gave them a pledge that I would take this issue forward to Gov. Inuwa Yahaya and we are sure he will approach that significantly, the commissioner assured.

Dr Walter Ugwuocha, the Executive Secretary, Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN), said that the initiative would help address the challenge of testing people for their HIV status in the country, adding we are doing well in treatment and viral suppression.

Nationally, we are not doing well in testing; we have persons who do not know their status. So this campaign is geared towards getting 10 million Nigerians to know their HIV status through self testing.

Ugwuocha stated that the initiative would address the issue of phobia for testing as a person can test himself without having to go to hospitals or assisted to be tested and without involving blood draws.

Based on treatment, we have done well in Nigeria. Between 2000 and 2005, we had 210,008 HIV-related deaths, between 2005 and 2010 113, 000 and now we have 53, 000.

There are 24,000 persons that are on treatment in Gombe State and 90 per cent of those persons are virally suppressed; meaning they cannot transmit the virus. This is commendable, he said.

He said that the campaign in Gombe State is aimed at testing 500, 000 persons, stressing that the reliability of the testing is 99.7 per cent and is being used in over 70 countries of the world.

He called on the media and other stakeholders to intensify awareness in the area of testing, adding that a lot of progress had been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS as a result of awareness creation.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dr Funmi Adewara

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Dr Funmi Adewara, a UK-based Nigerian Medical Doctor on winning World Bank SDGs And Her Global Award 2020.

The president, in a congratulatory message by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Friday said this feat has hoisted Nigerias flag proudly in the international arena once again.

The award came in the same season that the President in his National Day broadcast just applauded Nigerian professionals at home and abroad, whom he said ranked among the very best in the world.

Adewara is one of the seven winners of the award globally, among 2,400 women.

Buhari described this feat as an attestation once again of the stuff Nigerian professionals are made of.

He praised the University of Ibadan and Cambridge University trained medical doctor for her illustrious work in promoting access to healthcare for the worlds population in line with SDG 3 that seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being of all ages.

Adewara is Chief Executive Officer of Africas first fully integrated telehealth startup leveraging technology in harnessing diaspora and local doctors through a secure electronic medical record and video software. (NAN)

Source: NAN News